SB 1440 Implementation Update

November 5 , 2010

The California State University/California Community Colleges SB 1440 Implementation and Oversight Committee convened its first meeting earlier this week in Sacramento, CA.

The committee is co-chaired by Ephraim Smith, CSU executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer and Erik Skinner, executive vice chancellor for programs at the California Community Colleges and is comprised of members from each segment including campus presidents, provosts, admissions experts, faculty leaders and student representatives. It is tasked with the timely implementation of SB 1440 which goes into effect for the fall 2011-12 academic year.

Topics discussed by the group included implementation plans, the degree development process, admission opportunities and curriculum alignment among others.

The committee will next meet in Los Angeles in early December.

Senate Bill 1440, also known as the Student Transfer Achievement Reform (STAR) Act, was signed into law on Sept. 29 and establishes a transfer Associate of Arts Degree (AA) for those students who have completed 60 transferrable units. California Community College students who obtain the transfer AA degree will be admitted to the CSU with junior standing. Both the CSU and the CCC will improve efficiency by eliminating excess units that transfer students often accumulate in completing their degree. By simplifying the transfer process, the STAR Act also frees up seats for other students allowing the CSU and the CCC to provide greater access.